The main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya has not yet nominated a mayoral candidate for the Colombo Municipal Council. Mujibur Rahman, who was nominated for the post last time, has not expressed his interest this time, and the party’s second choice, Eran Wickramaratne, has refused to contest for the post of mayor, according to party internal sources.
The main reason for Eran Wickramaratne’s refusal to run for the post of mayor is reported to be the removal of Dr. Harsha de Silva from the leadership of the Colombo district by the party leadership. In addition, while a large group of the party is saying that they should contest together with the United National Party, a limited group is misleading party leader Sajith Premadasa and pressuring him to contest this election alone, the party sources say.